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As promised, here is my post about regifting. If you haven’t done so already, please vote in this month’s poll.
I hope you enjoy these regifting tips. Check out Regiftable.com for some laughable stories on regifting. You may learn some not-to tips there as well. If you don’t want to regift, but don’t want to hurt your pocketbook, try this certificate from Regiftable.com. You can make a certificate for something you want to give someone, such as free babysitting. I’d love for someone to give me some free babysitting or housecleaning.
1. Don’t give partially used gift cards. This is a tacky one for sure. I remember when my daughter was born, someone gave me a gift card for $17 and change. That left me wondering if they returned something and just gave me the gift card from the return or if someone gave them a gift card and they used it, and were giving the leftovers to me. By the way, I did return something to JCPenney yesterday without a receipt. I got back $16 and some change on a gift card. What I may do is add another $3+ onto the gift card to make it out to be an even $20.
2. Only give new, unopened gifts. If you have to dust it or clean it first, then don’t regift it.
3. Don’t just regift something to get rid of it. Make sure the person will like or appreciate the gift.
4. Remember who gave you the gift in the beginning. Don’t regift the item to someone who will show it the person who gave it to you.
5. Make sure all the paper, tape, etc. from the gift is gone. You don’t want evidence that the item was already gifted to you.
6. Be careful what you say. I’ve heard stories of people that laughed about the gifts they received from others and then regifted the item the next year. The people knew the item was a regift because they remember hearing something about the gift the year before.
7. Make sure you know what’s in the box. You may get a present that has a crock pot on the box, but that doesn’t mean that there’s a crock pot inside. Some people simply reuse boxes. It would really be a mess if you thought you were giving someone a crock pot, but you gave them something else. Or worse, there could be a card inside with your name on it.
8. If you don’t have money for a gift, then choose something that your friend has complemented in your home. Then tell them that you didn’t have any money to buy them something, but you knew they really liked the crystal clock you have on your dresser, and you wanted them to have it. Honesty would probably be appreciated and the person would actually get something they like.
9. Don’t regift handmade items. If you do, then it will be very odd when the person says, “Did you make this?”. And you know they’ll ask.
10. Only regift items that are up to date. And what I mean by this is don’t give someone discolored cologne, a bath product that is no longer sold, out of date CD, 1990′s cassette tape, etc. I remember one year someone gave me some Bath & Body Works stuff. It was a scent I didn’t like, so I tried to exchange it. Bath & Body Works had new and different packaging from what was on my gift. To make things worse, when I opened the gift, there was an expired coupon inside.
According to Regiftable.com, 2 out of 3 people have regifted or are considering regifting.
Check out this book from Amazon about regifting.
936 days ago
[...] If all else fails – it’s re-gift city time. You won’t get a gift, but you will save cash the next time you need one to give. Check out Karen’s top re-gifting ideas for the thrifty. [...]
1145 days ago
[...] Top 10 Regifting Tips for the Thrifty [...]
1520 days ago
[...] Top 10 Regifting Tips for the Thrifty [...]
1858 days ago
[...] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Related Posts: Please Vote in Our PollThanks for the input on my clothingpoll.Top 10 Regifting Tips for the ThriftySuggestions for Unwanted Gifts [...]
I used to have a gift closet. It had stuff in it that I had bought on sale, on clearance, or just from where I was trying to do my Christmas shopping all year long. I miss my gift closet. Now I have to keep the stuff in totes. It’s not very convenient, but at least I stay supplied. This month I had to find 3 birthday gifts for children in my daughter’s preschool class. Everything I needed was already there!!!
Great idea for donating the stuff. When we lived in Virginia there was an organization that collected new and used stuff for the needy. Every year at Christmas the needy folks were given points or something like that to shop with. The number of points they received was determined upon their income. They could use their points to shop for toys, clothes, household stuff, gifts for family, etc.
Last year and this year both I went through my regift closet and anything that was over 2 years old I put in the donation box at church. Those items are taken to a distribution site where low income folks can shop for free. At last that stuff will be loved and appreciated. And I gave more items then I would have bought for the event. And I have the space in my closet. Win Win Win–Dennise
Yes, that is funny and tacky for sure!
I love rules #5 & 7 – I got a wedding gift with a card for the original recipient inside it. It was funny, but it was kind of tacky! :)
1873 days ago
[...] I just posted The Top 10 Regifting Tips for the Thrifty. Some of you may not want to regift, but are still looking for uses for your unwanted gifts. Here are some suggestions for those items: [...]
LOL Kelly. I was just picturing that one. I’ve only been in a few weddings. Thankfully, my friends are all married.
I totally agree, Hsien. That’s like going to a bridal shower with the theme of wearing your ugliest bride’s maid dress and having the bride for that wedding there to attend. Or worse, someone wearing the bride’s maid dress for your wedding!
Those are some great tips. Regifting careless could be real embarrassing for sure!!
I think #3 is definitely an important one. Great list! Thanks for the tips!